Man, 19, Accused of Killing Girlfriend Alleged She Was Suicidal After Her Body Was Found ‘Stuffed’ Under Their Bed By Latoya Gayle

A Colorado man is awaiting his next court appearance after being charged in connection with the murder of his girlfriend.

On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez appeared in court, having been taken into custody the day before as a suspect in the death of a woman at a Frisco residence, said the Frisco Police Department in a news release.

The Summit County Coroner identified her as Hernandez’s 20-year-old girlfriend, Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj, Summit Daily reported.

Frisco Police first became aware of the incident shortly after midday on Dec. 29, when they received a “medical emergency” call from the couple’s Frisco residence, per the news release. Having arrived at the scene to discover Lopez-Racancoj’s deceased body, a search warrant was obtained amid the police’s investigation.

Hernandez was taken into custody on suspicion of murder in the first degree after deliberation, murder in the first degree with extreme indifference, murder in the second degree and tampering with a deceased human body. 

His arrest was detailed in a court-unsealed affidavit obtained by Summit Daily.

Police officers reportedly recognized the couple’s residence when they arrived at the scene on Dec. 29, as they had previously responded to a report from it, according to the outlet. 

Back in November 2025, Hernandez had posted a $20,000 cash surety bond after being charged with assault and child abuse. He and Lopez-Racancoj shared a child. However, an arrest affidavit in the case listed his mom and girlfriend as the victims. 

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When officers responded to the call from the couple’s residence a month later, on Dec. 29, they were allegedly told by residents that a person was under their bed, Summit Daily reported, citing the court-unsealed affidavit. A white trash bag was then found “stuffed” underneath that contained Lopez-Racancoj’s dismembered body.

Hernandez was detained alongside two other male residents of the apartment as officers spoke to a female witness. The witness said she hadn’t seen Lopez-Racancoj since Dec. 27 and alleged that the couple had gotten into an argument and broken up. 

The witness also allegedly told officers that Hernandez had scratch marks on his neck, arms and chest the morning of Dec. 29, per Summit Daily. 

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As the investigation continued, a steak knife was found covered in blood in the closet of the bedroom, as well as pillows with blood stain patterns that indicated “may have been held to a person’s face.”

A roommate told investigators that they received “strange” texts from Hernandez claiming that Lopez-Racancoj was suicidal the night before she was found dead. When he was asked about her whereabouts, he allegedly refused to say, Summit Daily reported, citing the court-unsealed affidavit.

In a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Hernandez said Lopez-Racancoj was asleep in their bed when he returned home from work at around 11 p.m. local time on Dec. 27. He claimed that their child’s crying woke him up hours later. 

Hernandez said he noticed Lopez-Racancoj was cold to the touch and “obviously deceased” when he went to snuggle with her after giving the child a bottle. He allegedly told interviewers that he didn’t attempt CPR or call 911 as he was in shock and feared that he would get in trouble.

When asked what he thinks may have happened to his girlfriend, Hernandez named another man who had allegedly been “harassing her” and suggested that she may have committed suicide, Summit Daily reported, citing the affidavit.

He refused to discuss the injuries that she may have suffered, while claiming the scratches on his own body were self-inflicted.

The Summit County Coroner’s Office has not yet shared Lopez-Racancoj’s autopsy report and cause of death.

Hernandez allegedly confessed to wrapping up Lopez-Racancoj’s body and concealing her under the bed, while researching what to do with it on his phone and considering running away to Mexico, Summit Daily reported, citing the affidavit.

Hernandez is currently being held at the Summit County jail with a $5 million cash surety bond set by 5th Judicial District Judge Reed Owens.

The Frisco Police Department and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Monday, Jan. 26.